Compassion is expressed in gentleness. When I think of the persons I know who model for me the depths of the spiritual life, I am struck by their gentleness ... They are gentle because they have honestly faced the struggles given to them and have learned the hard way that personal survival is not the point. Their caring is gentle because their self-aggrandizement is no longer at stake. There is nothing in it for them. Their vulnerability has been stretched to clear-eyed sensitivity to others and truly selfless love.John E. Biersdorf
I would say this a bit differently: Their love for others is not attached to their love of self.
This is simply a developmental issue--a spiritual developmental issue.
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3 comments:
Amen, sister. Amen.
I liked your words better. :-)
"Their love for others is not attached to their love of self." Succinct. Better. Thank you.
I'm not even close to truly selfless love, one hundred percent. Yes, there are people for whom I can feel selfless love at times, and times I can feel selfless love for others, but I can be such a child--at times. At my age! I continue to strive for such deep compassion.
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